Man to begin 2,633-mile trek for Thrive

Sunday

Apr 27, 2014 at 1:00 PM

Shortly after settling into a new home in South Carolina, Michael Koslow set out west to begin preparing for his hike along the Pacific Crest Trail to raise money for Thrive, while also raising awareness for mental illness.

By RENEE BINDEWALDTimes-News Staff Writer

Shortly after settling into a new home in South Carolina, Michael Koslow set out west to begin preparing for his hike along the Pacific Crest Trail to raise money for Thrive, while also raising awareness for mental illness.At the beginning of the year, Thrive announced one of their unit leaders would be gearing up for the 2,633-mile hike along the PCT, which stretches from the southern border of California and Mexico all the way to Canada.Thrive is a local nonprofit that helps people with mental illness on their path to independence through membership at the Clubhouse, offering programs that teach coping, social and vocational skills and helping members with job placement. After months of preparation and an unexpected move with his wife, Lauren, Koslow is now ready to begin his hike. “It's been super busy because not only have I been getting ready for the hike, but we also moved from Asheville to Hilton Head, S.C. because Lauren got hired at the public library here, so there's just been a lot of packing and unpacking and setting up, cleaning — at the same time trying to get all of my gear and plans in order for the hike,” Koslow said.In that same time time, Koslow also raised $1,250 in donations for Thrive, along with multiple per-mile sponsorships. “The wheels are turning and I am so grateful to everyone who has been so supportive in so many different ways, whether it is moral support or financial support, spiritual — all of these things, and I think it is going to continue to unfold like this,” Koslow said. Back at Thrive, Executive Director Kristen Martin said Clubhouse members and staff are excited to follow Koslow's journey. “I think everybody is excited to keep up with his trek,” Martin said. “We have a map that we're posting so that we can kind of track where he is along the way when he does his trail journals, and everybody is really excited that he's reaching his goals because we know this is something that he's always wanted to do.”Koslow will be keeping an online dairy of his journey on Trailjournals.com under the username MountainGoat2014. “I am going to continue to, in addition to describing my experiences, talk about mental illness and Thrive,” Koslow said. “I am going to talk about issues such as the environment and meditation that I will be having along the way; any thoughtful insights that may come to me that I feel can be beneficial, I will share.” After finishing his drive across the country, Koslow's hike will begin at dawn Tuesday. To follow Koslow's journey go to www.trailjournals.com and search for MountainGoat2014. Reach Bindewald at 694-7890 or renee.bindewald@blueirdgenow.com.